Buccaneers To Waive WR Tyler Johnson
Widely thought to be facing a roster crunch at the receiver position, the Buccaneers have moved on from a notable name buried down the depth chart. Tampa Bay is waiving Tyler Johnson, reports Greg Auman of The Athletic (Twitter link).
The 2020 fifth-rounder had a modest rookie season, recording 169 yards on 12 receptions. He took a step forward in terms of production last year, notching 36 catches for 360 yards. Still, he faced a long list of names ahead of him in the pecking order amongst Tampa’s other pass-catchers.
Already touting one of the league’s best WR tandems with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, the Buccaneers made a pair of significant additions in free agency this offseason. The arrivals of Russell Gage and, more recently, Julio Jones, left the team with a well-defined group at the top of the depth chart. That left Johnson among several noteworthy wideouts in danger of finding themselves on the roster bubble.
It was reported earlier this month that the undrafted trio of Jerreth Sterns, Deven Thompkins and Kaylon Geiger would the make position’s logjam even harder to clear. Those three, especially given their ability to contribute on special teams, left the statuses of incumbents like Johnson and Cyril Grayson in doubt. The latter had already been waived, and 2019 sixth-rounder Scotty Miller could join them.
Tampa Bay has plenty of firepower in the passing game still, and will see just under $2MM in cap savings with this move. Johnson, meanwhile, will be a name to watch on the waiver wire given his age and draft status.
Broncos To Trade OLB Malik Reed To Steelers
The top fill-in starter for Von Miller and Bradley Chubb over the past three seasons, Malik Reed has a new home. The Broncos are sending the veteran outside linebacker to the Steelers, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Denver will collect a late-round pick for the contract-year linebacker. While Reed has been a productive pass rusher, the Broncos made some moves this offseason to bolster that position. The depth acquired made Reed expendable, it appears.
After the Broncos traded the best pass rusher in team history (Miller) at last year’s deadline, they went to work in adding to that position this offseason. The team signing Randy Gregory and used its top draft choice (No. 64 overall) on Nik Bonitto. Denver also moved 2021 inside linebacker starter Baron Browning to the edge, and NFL.com’s James Palmer adds (via Twitter) the team is high on the former third-round pick after the training camp he put together at the new position.
A Reed trade has also loomed as a possibility for months due to his arrival before George Paton became the Broncos’ GM. Chubb is now the only OLB left from the John Elway regime, with the Broncos also rostering 2021 seventh-rounder Jonathan Cooper. Though Cooper’s spot may not be completely safe. Chubb and Gregory’s injury issues still may prompt the Broncos to prioritize depth at the position. But they felt enough depth was present to unload Reed, who will have a clearer role in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers, who cut edge rusher Genard Avery earlier this month, have featured an OLB need for a bit now. They traded Melvin Ingram last year, creating a void behind starters T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. Reed stands to play the same role he did in Denver, though Miller and Chubb’s injuries often simply made him a starter.
A 2019 UDFA, Reed has registered 13 sacks over the past two years. Since 2019, the Nevada alum has made 34 starts. One season remains on the 26-year-old OLB’s contract; the Broncos tendered Reed at the original-round level as an RFA this year.
Bears To Release DL Mario Edwards
Another veteran Bears defender will be moved off the roster this year. The team is releasing Mario Edwards, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter).
The former Raiders second-round pick had settled into a rotational role with the Bears over the past two seasons, but he joins most of Chicago’s front-seven vets of recent years in being jettisoned by a new-look Bears front office.
Khalil Mack (trade), Akiem Hicks (free agency), Eddie Goldman (released, later retired), Danny Trevathan (released) and Bilal Nichols (free agency) have departed from the Bears’ front seven this offseason. Although Roquan Smith is back at practice and tied to a fifth-year option salary, he is not exactly on good terms with the team.
As for Edwards, he re-signed with the then-Ryan Pace-overseen Bears in 2021. After adding Edwards initially in 2020, the Bears gave him a three-year, $11.55MM second contract. The deal included void years, which will not leave much in the way of cap savings associated with Tuesday’s release. As a vested veteran, Edwards will pass straight to free agency.
Edwards, 28, recorded six sacks during his two-year Bears tenure. The Florida State alum logged 26% and 27% defensive snap rates during that time. He missed time during training camp due to injury this year, however.
Eagles To Release S Anthony Harris
After cutting Jaquiski Tartt, the Eagles are moving on from their other experienced safety. The team is releasing Anthony Harris, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Harris started for the team last season and re-signed on a one-year deal worth $2.5MM this offseason, but a recent report indicated he might not be safe. The Eagles guaranteed Harris just $1MM.
The Harris cut came as the Eagles made a deal to acquire C.J. Gardner-Johnson from the Saints. While Gardner-Johnson played primarily in the slot in New Orleans, Philadelphia will use him at safety. The 24-year-old defender will replace Harris, who is going into his age-31 season.
Formerly Minnesota’s franchise player, Smith did not see that 2020 tagged season lead to big dollars in 2021. He signed with the Eagles for less than $5MM and took another pay cut this year. Harris has notched a six-interception season — 2019, leading to the Vikings franchising him — and has 61 starts’ worth of experience. He could find a new home soon
Colts To Release RB Phillip Lindsay
Phillip Lindsay faced a crowded running back room in Indianapolis, and will now look to find a home elsewhere. The Colts are releasing the veteran, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).
The 28-year-old enjoyed an historic start to his career with the Broncos. With back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, he was in line to make the ascent from UDFA to unquestioned lead back. Things changed starting in 2020, however, and Lindsay found himself in Houston by the start of last season.
The Colorado alum started just one of 10 games with the Texans before being waived by the rebuilding team. He was claimed by the Dolphins, as Miami looked for veteran options to improve their struggling ground game. In four games in South Beach, Lindsay averaged just 3.1 yards per carry, leading to his modest one-year deal with the Colts.
Even at the time of that signing, it was clear that he would face tough competition for snaps. Indianapolis boats one of the league’s premier workhorses in Jonathan Taylor, along with a backup in Nyheim Hines who is in line for a significant pass-catching role. With Lindsay out of the picture, Deon Jackson figures to occupy the No. 3 spot that the pair were competing for.
The move will save the Colts $970K in cap space, though the team was in better shape than most from a financial perspective entering today. Lindsay will now hit free agency, and look to navigate the market for another opportunity to serve a rotational role, and in turn, rebuild his value.
Chiefs To Release Josh Gordon, Danny Shelton
Josh Gordon‘s time in Kansas City has, at least for the time being, come to an end. The veteran receiver is being released, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). In addition, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (on Twitter) that defensive lineman Danny Shelton is among the team’s final roster cuts. 
Gordon, 31, signed with the Chiefs last September as part of his latest return to the NFL. His time with the team marked his first game action since 2019, which he split between New England and Seattle. Overall, Gordon made 12 appearances in 2021, making five catches for 32 yards and one touchdown.
Despite the significant turnover at the position this offseason, it was reported in June that Gordon was likely to find himself on the outside looking in with respect to the 2022 roster. Kansas City traded away Tyreek Hill, but signed JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Adding Skyy Moore via the draft gave the team a new nucleus of pass-catchers to work with Mecole Hardman, one which Gordon did not fit into.
As Pelissero notes, Kansas City “is open to him returning,” but a reunion would now only be possible on the practice squad. Depending on the outside interest the six-foot-three, 225-pounder receives, the desire to go that route may be mutual.
Shelton, meanwhile, signed earlier this month. The move came one day after it appeared he was heading to the Raiders, but represented a notable addition in the middle of the team’s defensive line as a rotational option behind Chris Jones and Derrick Nnadi.
The former first-rounder was a full-time starter with the Browns, but failed to live up to his draft stock during his three seasons there. He has since bounced around to the Patriots, Lions and Giants. With the latter last season, Shelton logged a career-low snap share of just 29%, limiting the value of his Chiefs deal to the veteran minimum. With the same being true for Gordon, Kansas City will not incur any dead cap charges from these moves, saving just under $2MM in the process.
Bills To Release O.J. Howard, Duke Johnson
The list of notable names being released continues to grow. The Bills are parting ways with veteran tight end O.J. Howard, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). In a separate tweet, he also confirms that running back Duke Johnson is being released. 
Neither moves comes as a complete surprise given recent developments. Howard had put forth underwhelming performances in training camp and the preseason; the fact that he was receiving a large workload with the team’s backups and third-stringers led to speculation last week that he could be on the outside looking in during roster cuts. Given the maximum value of the one-year deal Howard signed in Buffalo ($5MM), a trade always seemed unlikely in this situation.
The former first-rounder spent five seasons with the Buccaneers, putting up consistent numbers during his first three years. His career-high of 34 catches and 565 yards has never been improved upon, however, leading to his departure in free agency and arrival in Buffalo as a backup to Dawson Knox.
The move points to Quintin Morris and Tommy Sweeney taking on larger roles as rotational players behind Knox. Howard, meanwhile, will need to quickly find a new landing spot, where a depth role (and, presumably, a much less lucrative deal) will again be the target. Buffalo will save $2.25MM by releasing him.
The situation is different for Johnson. As Schefter notes, the Bills are eyeing a return for the veteran on their practice squad if he declines to sign elsewhere. The team has been projected to use a three-man committee of Devin Singletary, Zack Moss and second-round rookie James Cook. That trio, not to mention QB Josh Allen, left a rather narrow path to the 53-man squad for Johnson.
The 28-year-old began his career in Cleveland, where he posted 1,000 scrimmage yards for the first (and only) time in 2017. He has since played in Houston and, beginning late last season, Miami. With a 4.6 yards per carry average during the latter stop, he demonstrated value as at least a quality backup – something he is more likely to become elsewhere. As a vested veteran, he is not subject to waivers and can sign anywhere in free agency.
Eagles To Release TE Richard Rodgers
Richard Rodgers‘ third stint in Philly has come to an end. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets that the Eagles are cutting the veteran tight end.
As a vested veteran, Rodgers would have had his entire salary guaranteed had he made the 53-man roster. There’s a chance the organization circles back to him once players land on injured reserve, but another contract would likely provide the organization with a bit more flexibility (perhaps via a practice squad spot).
Rodgers made a name for himself with the Packers, especially thanks to a 2015 campaign where he finished with 510 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. He joined the Eagles for his first go-around with the organization in 2018. While he’s had brief stints with Washington and Arizona over the past four seasons, his regular season appearances have only come in an Eagles uniform. He ultimately saw time in 25 games (four starts) with Philadelphia, with the majority of his production coming during a 2020 campaign where he hauled in 24 receptions for 345 yards and two touchdowns. The 30-year-old got into three games with the Eagles last season.
Rodgers was competing for a back-of-the-depth-chart role behind Dallas Goedert and Jack Stoll. This move likely secures a roster spot for rookie sixth-round pick Grant Calcaterra.
Titans Acquire OL Dennis Daley From Panthers
We’ve got another trade. The Titans have acquired offensive lineman Dennis Daley from the Panthers, according to Jim Wyatt of the Titans’ website (on Twitter). Daley and a 2024 seventh-round pick will be sent to Tennessee, with Carolina receiving a 2024 fifth-round pick.
A 2019 sixth-round selection, Daley has spent his entire three-year career with the Panthers. He started 21 of his 34 games for the organization, including a 2021 campaign where he started nine of his career-high 15 appearances. He ended up ranking 71st among 82 qualifying guards, per Pro Football Focus, although the site was much more favorable of his performance in 2020.
The 26-year-old was ultimately the odd man out in a crowded OL room. Earlier today, Ellis Williams of the Charlotte Observer wrote that Cameron Erving could actually be the Panthers lineman on the trade block, but at least for the time being, the veteran will be staying put. This is the second trade the Panthers have pulled off today after acquiring wideout Laviska Shenault from the Jaguars.
Daley’s ability to play both guard and tackle should make him a useful piece in Tennessee. The new lineman could end up squeezing one of Corey Levin, Jamarco Jones, or Jordan Roos off the roster.
Cardinals To Release LB Devon Kennard
The Cardinals are releasing a veteran linebacker. The team is cutting Devon Kennard, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).
Despite starting only seven of his 28 games since joining the Cardinals, Kennard was expected to start in 2022. Markus Golden and Dennis Gardeck have since secured the starting outside linebacker spots, and instead of holding on to a veteran to back up the duo, the Cardinals will be pivoting to a younger option. That group includes a pair of third-round rookies: Cameron Thomas and Myjai Sanders.
Kennard inked a three-year deal with the Cardinals in 2020. In his two seasons with the organization, the linebacker collected 43 tackles and three sacks. The 31-year-old didn’t play enough snaps in 2021 to qualify for Pro Football Focus’ rankings, but his grade would have placed within the top-20, and he would have earned a top-1o mark for his run defense.
The former fifth-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career with the Giants before moving to Detroit in 2018. He spent two seasons with the Lions, collecting 104 tackles and 14 sacks.